The National tribune., 1887-11-03


DESTROYING A BRIDGE.
not physically strong he was finely formed,
stood very erect, and when occasion required
he could be as dignifed. naughty, and imperi-
Gus as an Emperor but i'm his intercourse with
those around him he was extremely a1abe and
courteous In his movements he was active
and graceful, and his step quick, light, and
elastic His voice was both peculiar and
pleasing-a clear, silyery, ringing voice that
could be heard with great distinctuess a long
distance His presence
WAS ALWAYS INSPIRING,
but it was only when his well-known voice
rang out that the enthusiasm Of his soldiers
reached its hight With Fitzpatrick at the
head cheering them on, there were no dangers
or difficulties so great but what they willingly,
yea, gladly, undertook; and the record shows
that, though put to the test numerous, and
| had almost said innumerabe times, they never
| finched never faltered and never disappoint-
cd him.
In the East Kilpatricks command consisted
Of the Harris Light Col. Davies; 4th n. Y,
| Col. Cesnola; LIST Mass, LIST X. l.. Col. Dufie;
LIST Vt, 5th n. Y, LIST Mich, LIST Pa, 18th
Pa. I'd Ohio. Sd n. j.; LIST, 5th, 9th, and 9TH
Mich. Cav; also Elders and Pennington's bat
teries aud a section Of artillery under Lieut..
Randall. They aggregated about 6,OO0 active
men.
In the West, 10th Ohio. Col. sanderson: 9th
Mich, Col. Acker; Sth Ind, Col. Jones; 5th
Ohio Col. Heath 92d H.. Col. Van Buskirk !;
9th Pa, Col Jordan Sd KY, Col. King;
portion of the I'd Ky. and LIST Wis. battery,
Capt. Beebe-aggregating from 5000 20 5000
active men.
They were excellently well mounted, armed,
and equipped, aud, though volunteers as thor
oughly drilled and under as good discipline as
/ Regular troops whom, If they did not surpass,
II Il, lied IN tu1a
and physical endurance. To be the commander
of such n large and splendid body of men was
indeed proud distinction for young man
SCARCELY TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD.
Kilpatrick's fighting principles may be
| summed up in a few words as his motto was 20
| fight the enemy whenever and wherever he
was TO be found, and TO continue fighting him
until he either fed or surrendered.
Fabian policy he never, i believe, practiced; I;
| neither did he hesitate nor delay in attacking
| the enemy, but he struck him early and often,
sharply and vigorously, and so energetically
did he follow up his blows that in many in
stances the battle was won ere it was fairly
begun.
While partial TO saber charges he frequently
fought his troops on foot, and when the enemy
was behind breastworks or barricades the task
of their dislOdgmcnt was assigned 10 the
mounted infantry regiments while the cavalry
regiments made saber charges on the TANKS.
and do not now recall an ins, ,ance where this
infantry cavalry combination did not prove
adequate 10 the emergency
Certain critics. through misinformaton or
prejudice. born OF envy, have ascribcd Kilpat-
ricks success TO recklessness and mere casual
good fortune or, as the poet has expressed it:
such was his woutcd reckless mood,
Net desperate vaor Oft made good
Even by HE daring venture rude
Where prudence might have failed"
But that these suggestions, though not with
out plausibility, are erroneous and do Kill
patrick great injustice, is sufficiently demon
strated by the record which he made in the
Eastern and the Western armies, 10y the testi.
} mony of the commanders under whom he served
and by what should be conclusive on this'point
the involuntary admissions of those he SO often
encountered and
so OFTEN ovERcAME
! IN the shock Of battle-his able and distin
gushed antagonists, Stuart. Hampton. Fitzhugt
Lee Wheeler an others; and believe il sus
| eeptible of proof that the cavalry of the Con
, federates was, if anything, superior TO theii
infantry ia fighting material. organization and
discipline. Certain IL is this branch Of theil
service was largely made up Of the best blood
OF the South, the sciOns Of the FIRST families SO
called-th0se who prided themselves on thei
; lineage courage and chivalrie accomplishments
more especially their hOrsemanship. To bat
tlesuccesslully y against such Generals and troops
Fitzpatrick, while open 10 the charge of being
bold aud daring almost 20 rccklcssncss and eve
eager 10 fight at the same time must have hat
his youthful fervoT well under control, ant
| failed not 20 exercise the cool caution and iudg
ment OF a veteran commander.
The conclusion, therefore, is irresistible tha
his success was due, not 10 fortutOus circum
stances, but TO his personal popularity aud in
q fluence 10 his rare soldierly qualifications, anC
q 10 the fact that, being a soldier by education
Y aud experience he fully understood aud prac
!. ticed the most approved modes OF modern war
n fare utilizing has forces 20 the best advantag
}, and directing their movements with consun
o mate skill aud ability.
Fitzpatrick, 10y Of his youth and san
: guneness, may not have succeeded in the in
fantry and artillery branches of the service
Q but testing him by the rules and measures tina
S apply 10 the cavalry service, We find that h
: responds adequately and triumphantly, aud,
d equallcd,
Z CERTAINLY SURPASSED BY NONE
q in either Northern or Southern army AS q cav
u airy leader.
S The remark was frequently made, Xxi
e patrick fights for the love Of the thing; but
IL have often heard him depreca.e war and rcle
should never be resortcd 10 by civilized peopl,
- Like most mankind, however, Fitzpatrick
prccepts and examples were sOmew hat incoI
a sstcBt with each other. Like the elogueu
1f temperance orator, who, being found drun
20 after lecture, defended himself by sayin,
a. See here, my friead, how can you pect
"a man TO walk the road ar2 be guide post, 100
l. The thing can't be DONE"
-. Shortly after the close Of the Wal Eilpatric
paid visit 10 the Reform School, in albany,